Shipping-package.



H. N. MANN.

SHIPPING PACKAGE.

APPLICATION FILED 001'. 21, 1907.

Patented Apr. 19, 1910.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY N. MANN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

. SHIPPING-PACKAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed- October 21., 1907. Serial No. 398,500.

simple and efiicient means, in such a way as to effect a very secure union and practical seal between the parts, and to substantially insure the package against loss of its contents by pilfering or otherwise.

Itis known that many commodities, of an edible or otherwise attractive nature, are shi ped in packages comprising a receptacle suc as a pail and a cover nailed thereon, and it is a source of constant annoyance to the dealers in and carriers of goods so packaged that the contents are often stolen. When such losses occur it is difiicult to place the responsibility, as the cover of the package may be lifted, a part of the contents extracted and the cover replaced without leaving a trace. Each carrier, wholesaler and jobber, therefore, accepts thepackages as in good condition so that the shortage is not discovered until the package is opened for the ultimate disposition of the goods, and then it is of course impossible to place the responsibility on any one of the several parties through whose hands the package passed. Such a package is further subject to objection in that the receptacle and closure must be of relatively thick, tough material to be susceptible of being nailed together, and in that even where no intentional tampering with the package occurs, rough handling in shipment is apt to start the nails from their seats, and loosen the cover letting dust get into the package, and in some instances resulting in loss of more or less of thecontents of the receptacle.

By my invention I provide a package wherein the receptacle and closure structures may be made of minimum thickness for the purpose intended, and of materials heretofore unavailable sheet metal or cheap fissile wood, as no account need be taken of capability for receiving top-securing nails; wherein the receptacle and for shipment; wherein the parts when 50 connected are securely united and locked together in such manner as to practically seal the package so far as the the cover and rece such as paper, fiber,-

cover. may be easily connected joint between. tacle is concerned; and

Patented Apr. 19', 1910.

wherein it is practically impossible for the cover to be lifted or removed from the receptacle and thereafter replaced with the original fastener, so that loss ofthe contents by accident or pilfering are practically obviated.

In the embodiment of my invention,

herein illustrated; Figure 1 is a view partlyin elevation and partly in section of a shipping-package embodying my invention; Figs; 2- and 3 are enlarged sectional details of the parts with the retaining device partially and fully applied; and, Fig. 4c is an enlarged perspective view, with a fragment broken away, of the retaining band forming an important feature of my invention. Throughout the several views like nu merals of reference refer always to like parts.

While I have herein shown my invention particularly as embodied in wooden pails, for candy and the like, it will be obvious that the invention may be carried out in packages of other shapes and materials.

Referring to. the particular embodiment shown, the receptacle, generally indicated as 5, is a tapering wooden pail, smaller at its bottom than at its top, and provided with exterior retaining hoops for its staves. One of such hoops, indicated by the numeral 6, is preferably of Wire, and is located close to the rim of the receptacle, such hoop being I secured against upward slippage by the inclination of the staves or indentation in the receptacle or otherwise, to afford an annular projection near the mouth of the pail. The upper edge of the pail, indicated at 7, may, as in ordinary practice, be fiat, and the pail may be constructed of the lightest material compatible with the character of the contents to be shipped.

8 indicates in general the cover, which may be and preferably is a flat disk overlying and substantially covering the to edge 7 or mouth of the pail' or receptac e, such cover being also of the lightest construction deemed safe, and if desired, of maple, hemlock, or other cheap fissile wood.

The retaining member for fastening together the receptacle and cover, consists of a peripherally inseparable metallic band havmg its u per edge inturned to overlie the border 0 the cover, and its lower edge secured to the receptacle, the mid portion of the band surrounding the edge of the cover and the upper part of the receptacle. Specifically I prefer that the band, generally indicated at 9, shall comprise 1n its original shape a substantially vertical midportion 'or central zone 10, an inturned top flange or ring 11 adapted to overlie the border of the cover, and a flaring lower zone or skirt 12, adapted to be inturned to underlie the hoop 6. I prefer that the inturned ring 11 have a narrow edge downturned throughout its extent, as shown at 11, to form of said ring a low, upwardly projecting head. I prefer to form the band 9 of a single length of thin metal, the ends whereof are firmly and inseparably united as by soldering, brazing or clenching together in any desired manner for purposes of permanent union, it being important that the band shall be for practical purposes peripherally continuous or inseparable when applied. Such band may be made by any approved method, and I havefound in practice that it may be cheaply and easily manufactured.

In closing the package for shipment the cover 8 is placed upon the receptacle 5 and the band is preferably slipped on so that the edge 11 of its annular flange 11 rests upon the cover 8, the flange 11 overlying the bor der of the cover, the mid-zone 10 extending down around the edge of the cover and the upper part of the pail to a line adjacent and parallel to the hoop 6, and the flaring skirt 12 projecting out beyond and below the hoop 6. The edge of the thin metal skirt 12 is then rolled under, as best illustrated in Fig. 3, to form a lip 13, which underlies and snugly interfit-s against the hoop 6, thereby locking the cover against vertical displacement while the edge-surrounding zone 10 maintains the cover against lateral displacement.

To open the package the band is cut with a can opener, snips, or other tool, leaving the receptacle and cover unblemished for further use, although the package may be closed for another shipment only by the application of a new ring, so that unauthorized refilling of the ackage is practically prevented.

Whi e I have herein described in detail an advantageous embodiment of my invention, and a ractical manner of applying the ring, it will detail may be made without departure from the spirit of my invention. The mode of application of the ring may also be varied. For example, the retaining band may be originally formed with the lip 13 inturned an the band above such lip straight or upright, and the band slipped on from the bottom of the pail (before the handle is applied) and subsequently acted on by sultable dies to bend in the flange 11.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A package consisting of an open recepapparent that changes in structural tacle provided near its open top with a rigid retaining hoop fixedly secured to and in direct continuous contact with the receptacle body; a cover for the open top of the receptacle; and a peripherally-inseparable continuously-extending cover-retaining ring, the upper portion of which extends inwardly and above the surface of the top to form a bead, the inner edge of-said ring be ing downturned and engaging the cover, and at its lower edge overlying and inturned under the retaining hoop, thereby rigidly fixing the cover on the receptacle against the removal thereof except by mutilation of the ring.

2. A package consisting of an open-top receptacle having side walls of staves and a rigid retaining hoop fixedly secured to the staves in direct continuous contact therewith; a cover overlying the top and bearing on the staves; and a peripherally-inseparable continuous sheet-metal cover-retaining ring, at its upper edge inturned to overlie but out of contact with the cover, and downturned for edge presentation to the top sur face of the cover; said ring having its middle zone bridging the joint between the receptacle and cover, and having its lower portion overlying and its edge inturned under the exposed lower side of the retaining hoop of the receptacle, thereby rigidly fixing the cover on the receptacle against removal except by mutilation of the package.

3. As an article of manufacture, a sheet metal cover fastening ring for covered receptacles, comprising a peripherally-inseparable ring having an annular upright zone, an inturned part at the top of said zone, said ring having its free inner edge downturned, to constitute of said ring a centrally raised bead; and. an outwardly flaring frustoconoidai bottom skirt extending down wardly and outwardly from the lower .edge extending downwardly and outwardly from 10 of the upright zone. the lower edge of the cylindrical zone.

4. As an article of manufacture, a sheet In testimony whereof I hereunto set my metal fastening band fofi' cofi ered recepglihand in the presence of two witnesses. cles, comprising a perip era y insepara e band having an annular cylindrical zone, an HENRY MANN inturned ring at the top of said zone, of rel- In the presence of atively small radial dimensions, and an out- Fomin BAIN, wardly flaring frusto-conoidal bottom skirt, MARY F. ALLEN. 

